Yadav, Patil star for Mumbai Champs in ICL

Panchkula (Haryana), March 19 (IANS) Left-armer Avinash Yadav bagged for wickets for 14 and Raviraj Patil scored a rapid, unbeaten half century to propel Mumbai Champs to a six-wicket win over Ahmedabad Rockets with two balls to spare in the Edelweiss 20s Challenge of the Indian Cricket League (ICL) here. Chasing Ahmedabad Rickets’ 131 for nine in 20 overs, Mumbai Champs scored 135 for four in 19.4 overs for their maiden win in the eight-team team competition at Tau Devi Lal Stadium Tuesday night.

Top scorer Patil smashed an unbeaten 65 off just 46 balls (6×4s, 3×6s). Yadav was adjudged the Man of the Match.

Despite the win, Mumbai Champs are placed fourth with two points from three matches. They had lost both their earlier matches, and have a net run rate of -0.13.

Ahmedabad Rockets have also managed just one win from three matches and have two points. But they are placed sixth because of their inferior net run rate (-0.38).

The formidable Lahore Badshahs, led by former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq, lead the table with six points from three matches. It is the only team that has not lost a single match so far and has a net run rate of +2.41.

Ahmedabad Rockets skipper Damien Martyn won the toss and openers West Indies’ Wavell Hinds (30) and Sachin Dholpure (29) gave them a good start with their 61-run partnership.

But the fall of three quick wickets - Dholpure, Murray Goodwin and Hinds - reduced the Ahmedabad Rockets to 72 for three in the 12th over. A 25-run stand for the fourth wicket between S. Sriram (19) and Damien Martyn (8) brought them some relief.

But the rest of the batsmen failed to tackle some excellent bowling by Yadav. The 21-year-old Uttar Pradesh bowler, who has also represented India under-19, hastened Ahmedabad Rockets’ end, finishing with fine figures of 4-0-14-4.

Chasing, Mumbai Champs lost Subhojit Paul when only seven runs were scored. But some decent partnerships, all involving Patil, that followed ensured that they earn their first points of the tournament.

Patil and Nathan Astle of New Zealand added 41 for the third wicket and then Patil and Kiran Powar (19) raised 32 for the fourth wicket to put the team on the road to victory.